Chapter 215 215
Jacqueline sat on the bed, freshly bathed and dressed in a clean set of clothes ones Damien had already bought for her long before she had even arrived here. The thought alone made warmth bloom in her chest.
So caring.
The door opened, and Damien stepped inside carrying a large tray piled high with food. He was dressed casually in gray sweats and a black T-shirt, his hair still slightly damp.
Jacqueline instinctively scooted back on the bed as he placed the tray between them. The moment her eyes landed on the spread, her mouth watered.
The food looked incredible.
“You cooked this?” she asked, clearly surprised.
“Some of it,” he muttered.
He sat down across from her and began filling her plate, adding small portions of nearly everything on the tray. Jacqueline didn’t object in the slightest she was far too hungry for that.
“I’m starving,” she declared, rubbing her hands together before licking her lips as she eyed the food she was about to demolish.
Damien chuckled softly.
“Do I look like you when I’m starving?” he asked sincerely.
She blinked at him in confusion.
It took a few seconds for the meaning behind his words to fully register in her mind and when it did, her cheeks turned a deep shade of red as she quickly looked away.
“Stop,” she grumbled.
A deep, amused laugh rumbled out of him before he handed her the plate. She accepted it gratefully, already focused on the food in front of her.
“Pretty starving, huh?” he teased again as he shoved a bite into his own mouth.
Jacqueline rolled her eyes at him, though a faint, playful smile tugged at her lips.
They ate together while Damien continued to poke fun at her, and Jacqueline responded with exaggerated irritation. It felt as if their roles had somehow reversed.
After breakfast, Damien called Alexandre, and Jacqueline spoke to her brother. Relief flooded through her when she heard that he was doing well.
Later, they settled on the couch in the living room while Damien put on a random movie.
Jacqueline curled against his side, his arm wrapped securely around her frame, holding her close.
“You smell so nice,” she murmured softly as she breathed in his scent.
“I know you obsess over my cologne,” he replied matter-of-factly.
Her jaw dropped slightly.
How does he know that?
Then the memories surfaced those few times he had caught her wearing his cologne.
Maybe he had known all along.
“I do,” she admitted honestly.
She buried her face into the crook of his neck, taking a deep breath while the tip of her nose brushed along his skin.
His body stiffened instantly.
“Are you still sore?” he asked, his voice rough.
She hummed in response, deliberately letting her nose glide against his neck again as warm breaths fanned over his skin.
His entire body went rigid.
And she knew exactly what she was doing.
“I suggest you stop that,” he growled lowly, “unless you want me to take you right here, right now. And trust me, I won’t be gentle.”
Before she could react, he shifted their positions.
In the next second, Jacqueline found herself straddling his lap.
His fist tangled in her hair, pulling her head back just enough to make her gasp as she stared down at him with wide eyes.
“I didn’t even do anything,” she said, feigning innocence.
He narrowed his eyes at her.
“Don’t tempt me, little vixen. You know exactly what you’re doing,” he growled.
His grip on her hair tightened slightly, arching her neck as his lips descended to it, pressing gentle kisses along her skin.
The rough scrape of his stubble brushed against her neck, but she didn’t mind in the slightest.
“Damien…” she breathed his name like a quiet prayer.
The sound alone sent his wolf into a frenzy.
Even though the moment hadn’t deepened into anything more yet, his gums tingled with a sharp urge the instinct to mark her.
He dragged his tongue over the spot on her neck where the mark would eventually go.
But for now, he simply gave her a gentle bite there.
Closing his eyes tightly, he leaned forward and rested his forehead against her shoulder, trying to steady himself.
His grip on her hair loosened.
Jacqueline looked down at him, concern flickering across her face. Her hands rose to cup his jaw, her thumb softly brushing over his cheek.
“What’s wrong?” she asked quietly.
Instead of answering, he pressed a soft kiss against her shoulder.
“Nothing,” he murmured before finally lifting his gaze to hers.
And before she could press him further, he leaned forward and claimed her lips.
The day passed in a blur of quiet, beautiful moments.
But by dinner, Jacqueline suddenly felt a wave of nausea hit her. Damien immediately became concerned, though the feeling passed after a few minutes.
Still, she couldn’t bring herself to eat anything afterward.
He offered to cook something different for her, but she declined.
Instead, they decided it was time to head back. She couldn’t leave Mathieu alone for too long.
They walked out together hand in hand, their fingers tightly intertwined.
Jacqueline didn’t want to leave.
She wished she could stay here for days weeks even.
For the first time in her life, she felt light. Truly happy. At peace.
Damien had somehow become her calm… her sanctuary.
They got into the car, and Damien pulled onto the road.
Soon they were cruising down the highway.
It was a little late, but they would still reach the city in time.
A comfortable silence settled between them.
Then suddenly Jacqueline asked him to stop the car.
Without question, Damien pulled over to the side of the road.
She stepped out of the car and immediately bent forward, vomiting.
Damien rushed to her side instantly. He gathered her hair in his hand to keep it out of the way while gently rubbing her back.
When she finished, he handed her his handkerchief and helped her sip some water from a bottle.
“Get in the car,” he said firmly, worry etched across his face. “I’m taking you to the hospital.”
“I’m fine,” she murmured weakly. “It’s just… I’ve been feeling nauseous for the past few days.”
His brows furrowed.
Her words had barely begun to process in his mind when a deep, guttural growl echoed from the woods nearby.
A massive wolf stepped out from the shadows.
Damien’s eyes widened instantly.
Without hesitation, he pulled Jacqueline behind him, shielding her with his body.
He had been so focused on her that he hadn’t even scented the danger approaching.
Within seconds, more wolves emerged from the trees.
The heavy pounding of paws against the ground filled the air.
There were many of them.
Too many.
He couldn’t even mind-link Dominique they were far too far from the pack’s territory.
Then his gaze sharpened as another wolf stepped forward.
This one was enormous.
An Alpha.
“Get in the car,” Damien ordered quickly.
But Jacqueline didn’t move.
She stood frozen in place, staring at the massive creatures before her.
They weren’t normal wolves.
Not even close.
A cold wave of terror washed through her body as the reality of the situation settled in.